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2-1-1
Cornell
1-1-1
Defense Leads Bulls To Scoreless Tie Against Cornell
9/10/2013 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
BUFFALO, NY - Battling both high winds that reached 25 miles per hour and an aggressive Cornell offense, the Buffalo Bulls women's soccer team (2-1-1) fought out a 0-0 double overtime tie Tuesday evening. Goalie Ainsley Wheldon continued her stellar play for the Bulls earning her second straight shutout, making three saves in the tie.
"I am happy how we came out and played tonight," stated head coach Michael Thomas. "I feel like once we figured the game out, we created a lot of chances for ourselves. We also did a real good job of limiting their good chances tonight."
The Bulls offense felt its way out early on in the opening half playing against the strong winds, but Kassidy Kidd was able to get the first shot on goal of the game just over 11 minutes into play. From then on in the first half the Big Red controlled the play as just minutes later Elizabeth Crowell hot the cross bar on a shot from just outside the box past a diving Wheldon. After 45 minutes of action Cornell held the dominating 5-1 advantage in shots.
With the wind in the second half, the Bulls began to wear down their opponents with a great offensive attack led by junior Katie Roberts who had two great chances in the second half to give the Bulls the lead but she was denied both times.
In the 87th minute, the Bulls received their best chance to break the scoreless tie off the foot of Sophie Therien. Therien booted a nearly perfect shot from outside the box that beat a diving Kelsey Tierney but the ball hit the post and went out of play.
Roberts continued to be a thorn in Cornell's side in the overtime periods as she was able to put three shots on goal but still unable to beat the Cornell goalkeeper. The Bulls controlled the ball in the attacking third for most of the overtime periods but they were unable to come away with the non-conference victory.
Defensively, the Bulls received great play from their senior captain Courtney Gross who dominated the backend for Buffalo all game long. Kristin Markiewicz and Natalie Jurisevic also had great games for the Bulls defensively in their second straight shutout. The shutout for Wheldon marked the 17th in her storied Buffalo career, just four shy of the program's all-time record.
For the game, Buffalo held the 12-10 advantage in shots including leading 11-5 after the first 45 minutes of action. Buffalo also earned two corner kicks to just one for the Big Red.
The Bulls will return home for two more home games this weekend as they will take on Duquesne on Friday night at 7:00 pm and Austin Peay on Sunday at 11:15 am. Sunday's match against Austin Peay will also be Senior Day for the five seniors.
